Academic Transparency Begins with Formal Accreditation Processes
Reference: Situation of IRIA fraud, identity theft and forgery.
IRIA is a certification company for instructors, agency or company training courses. IRIA is not a training service provider company. IRIA can refer credible and verified training companies who have had their curricula audits for ISO and international standard conformity.
HISTORY: Jim’s Segerstrom’s company Global Rescue Group provided the training in Taiwan on behalf of the Taiwan government to train their fire rescue personnel. His company instructors were IRIA approved to assess students and certify those who successfully completed the courses through Global Rescue Group.
IRIA has never taught courses for first responders, it is a curricula and instructor certifying body.
Mr. Yeh has it wrong. He does not understand IRIA, nor what the mission, vision and value of the association is.
IRIA never went to Taiwan to train private instructors or companies, neither did Global Rescue Group.
IRIA in association with Global Rescue Group were fulfilling a training contract directly to the NFA during the course that Mr. Yeh attended.
“Jim Segerstrom never licensed him to work for him for the IRIA. Jim and I had many discussions while in Taiwan about instructors’, states lead IRIA instructor Tom Neville.
Mr. Yeh essentially took advantage of 1 company owned by Jim Segerstrom: Global Rescue Group and 1 Association called: International Rescue Instructors Association also known as International Rescue Instructors Adviser.
Having good intentions as Mr. Yeh states is not good enough. One must approach business matters in a reasonable and practical manner for all involved especially when it comes to life and safety. This is what protects the parties and those they serve in stewardship of the public trust.
Fact: Instructors for IRIA are critically assessed and documented. Records are maintained throughout a process of determination and service period.
Fact: There are no IRIA instructor records or course approvals in the name of Mr. Yeh. There is a fraudulent takeover of IRIA for personal gain without written consent or contract terms and conditions.
There is only one IRIA assessed / approved instructor in China as of 2020 or throughout Asia. COVID-19 travel restrictions have delayed the training of future IRIA instructor/assessors but these plans are still engaged to fulfill these obligations once restrictions are lifted.
Documents were issued with forged signatures of Jim Segerstrom, Jim Lavalley and Tom Neville, with a few other original instructors with the stolen identity of IRIA.
‘As the co-founder of IRIA along with my dear friend Jim Segerstrom, we never authorized any person in the regions of Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan or the USA. We did not give anyone permission to use our logos, or our Alliance, Association or Adviser. We never authorized any instructors in these regions. I never signed the documents that we have seen. My signature is a forgery on these fake documents. IRIA did not have an approved instructor in China until training began in 2019 and this is not Peter Yeh or his partners. Regarding criminal activity; Peter Yeh has taken great license and caused IRIA tremendous harm for our reputation, image and trademarks. He has lied to those who entered into contract negotiations with him believing they were receiving an endorsement of authentic training from IRIA. Our history, my identity was used to secure these contracts, making these agencies also victims of fraud. Peter Yeh does not, nor has he ever had any authority to represent IRIA in contract negotiations, certification, affiliate licensing or selling merchandise from us. IRIA was never compensated for the use of its image by Peter Yeh and/or his partners. There is not one single record that he can produce that can be considered authentic.” States Jim Lavalley, IRIA Chairman and Rescue Canada owner.
Lead Instructor for Global Rescue Group and IRIA in Taiwan Mr. Tom Neville:
“There is another issue at stake here. That is problem of the safety and welfare of the students who received inferior training and techniques.
This places these students and the public they serve in jeopardy. We have seen via video and pictures the fraud and his instructors have violated numerous safety practices placing the students and those who they serve lives at stake for his profits.
This is exactly why the IRIA exists, to uphold the highest standards and ethics.
This is what makes him a danger to those he has conned with his counterfeit training and documentation.
Furthermore, the damage to equipment and injuries that may have occurred, he is directly liable for.
This is some of the worst human behavior I have witnessed, to counterfeit his whole identity and business to appropriate funding for his personal business at the expense of the authentic IRIA.
This behavior is incredulous to me and violates all the ethos we share in our life’s work.
He needs to be exposed and possibly prosecuted.” States Tom Neville, Mr. Yeh’s original certifying instructor co-ordinator in Taiwan.
IRIA wished to have a discreet return privately of its Intellectual Properties and identity from Mr. Yeh and his associates. The failure here was of Mr. Yeh not honoring that request. He should have addressed IRIA’s request and this would never have gone public, nor did it need to. This was his sole choice.
IRIA has been honorable in requesting reasonable and understandable returns and not requested monetary compensation for its damages. Which IRIA has every right to do so, but had chosen not to in stewardship of the water safety and rescue society trust.
IRIA is most concerned about the students who received these false credentials. They are innocent. They placed trust in the name of IRIA and spent their money to receive the benefits of their efforts. But the reciprocal benefits must be one built on trust, honor and sacred duty, not to be lied to be instructors or to be misled about the process or history.
IRIA is an all-inclusive organization. IRIA does not discriminate against applicants or members of IRIA.
IRIA members are obliged to respect and honor the rules and regulations of the standards and IRIA’s code of ethics, principles and duties and a code of conduct. This is the way of a professional.
All are welcome to join as a member of their appropriate category.